Distraction is often a factor in serious vehicle accidents

There are a number of factors that can increase the likelihood that a motor vehicle may be involved in a crash. Per data offered by the Washington Department of Transportation, factors such as driver fatigue, intoxication, and traffic violations all can contribute to dangerous and sometimes deadly accident on the state’s roads. However, one factor contributes more to causing dangerous vehicle accidents than any other, and that factor is distraction.

In 2015, the Washington State Collision Survey reported that distractions contributed to more than 45,000 accidents within the state’s borders. After distractions, speeding was the second-most common factor to cause accidents, with speeding contributing to 19,662 accidents during the same year.

Distractions can take on many different forms. A driver who chooses to eat while operating their vehicle may be distracted, and a driver who engages in grooming while behind the wheel may also lose focus of what is before them on the road. As readers may know, though, cell phone use and texting are often the causes of drivers’ distractions as individuals attempt to communicate with others while operating their automobiles.

In 2015, distracted drivers caused 160 fatal collisions and 550 serious injury collisions in Washington. More than 14,000 distracted driver accidents caused victims to suffer minor injuries during the same time frame. Every victim of a distracted driving accident, however, must deal with the stress and frustration of getting their life back to normal after enduring losses at the hands of a negligent party.

In the wake of a distracted driving accident, victims may have questions about how best to address their needs and what options they have for becoming whole again. Victims are encouraged to find legal help from attorneys that they trust and who can guide them through the often-complicated decisions that may be required to litigate the personal injury claims.